Jimmy John’s Workers Vote Against Unionizing

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The employees of 10 Twin Cities Jimmy John’s sandwich shops voted down a union Friday, which would have bargained for better pay and working conditions.

The vote was closely watched by representatives of the National Labor Relations Board, who counted and verified the ballots. Out of 204 eligible voters, 85 voted for the union and 87 against it — with two challenged ballots.

“Because the challenged ballots would not affect the outcome (the union needs a majority to win) the union lost and results are final,” stated the NLRB.

Earlier this fall, 60 percent of the Jimmy John’s workers voted to push the matter to an official ballot to decide if they want union representation.

For weeks now, disgruntled workers at Minneapolis Jimmy John’s locations have been pounding the streets and parading in protest. They’ve waged a very public campaign to win the right to unionize the 10 privately owned fast food shops.

Nate Moshe is a delivery worker with the downtown store.

“They’re all kind of angry and that’s why this is happening because they’re not very happy with their jobs,” said Moshe.

Under the watchful eyes of the NLRB, the election could have made these workers among the first in the country to give the minimum wage, part-time workers, the collective power to bargain with management.

Franchise owner, Mike Mulligan believes the group of union organizers is simply out to bring somebody in the industry down, and his shops happen to be first on the list.

Bill Hudson has been with WCCO-TV since 1989. The native of Elk River, Minn., says Channel 4 is the station he grew up with and aspired to work for. He is one of seven children, including two other brothers with careers in broadcasting.
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